We are pleased to announce that Rick Hoberg (Storyboard Director of the Jem Animated Series) will be a virtual guest at JemCon 2022!

Rick Hoberg is an animation and comic artist veteran whose portfolio is so robust it might just require a Rockin Roadster to navigate!

He began his career in the mid-1970s, working for Russ Manning on the Tarzan Comic books for overseas distribution (1975–1976). Shortly after, he began freelancing for Marvel Comics via Roy Thomas who was Stan Lee’s first successor as editor in chief at Marvel Comics (Rick connected with Roy through mutual industry friends Richard Kyle and Harlan Ellison.) Rick’s work at Marvel included penciling on Kull The Destroyer, Savage Sword Of Conan, What If...?, and the original Star Wars comics.

He then took a few years to enter the animation field through producer Doug Wildey only to then return to the comic industry where he became a regular contributor at DC Comics. During this time, he worked on titles such as All-Star Squadron, Batman, Brave And The Bold, Captain Carrot, Checkmate, DC Challenge, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, New Gods, and Justice League Annuals. During this period, he also co-created and pencilled Eternity Smith at Renegade and Hero Comics. Rick also contributed pencil work to Roger Rabbit at Disney’s short-lived comics line. In the 1990s, he co-created The Strangers with Steve Englehart for Malibu’s Ultraverse line; He worked on The Strangers until the Ultraverse line was shut down upon being acquired by Marvel.

After The Strangers, he went back into animation, drawing storyboards and models for various TV series, as well as a few live action theatricals of little note such as Cyborg, and the well regarded TV mini-series Stephen King’s IT. In 2002–2003, he worked with Stefano Gaudiano on the art for the Batman Family series for DC Comics.

Besides his comics work, he’s been active in animation since 1977 as a storyboard artist, model designer, and layout man for Hanna Barbera, Ruby-Spears, Filmation, Marvel Productions and Marvel Films, DC, Universal Animation, Walt Disney, Cartoon Network, Film Roman, Warner Bros, and many others. The animated series he’s contributed to include: Godzilla, Super Friends, SpiderMan And His Amazing Friends, The Incredible Hulk, GI Joe, Defenders Of The Earth, Jem and the Holograms, Spider-Man The Animated Series, Justice League, X-Men, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Hoberg also served as a director/producer for Marvel Productions, where he cocreated the first X-Men cartoon, Pryde Of The X-Men, with Larry Houston and Will Meugniot.  It was his prior work with Will that got him involved initially with Jem. Rick was a storyboard director for 39 episodes and worked on both episode layouts and as well as music video layouts alongside JemCon alum Keith Tucker and Will Meugniot.

His more recent animation work includes Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man, War Of The Worlds: Goliath, Hulk And The Agents Of S.M.A.S.H., Transformers: Robots In Disguise, Carmine Sandiego, and The Swan Princess DTVs. In addition, he’s drawn a vast quantity of the line artwork for the official Star Wars Style Guide for Lucasfilm’s licensing division over the past 35 years. Rick was also the Lead Cinematic Storyboard Artist at 343 Industries for Halo 4 and 5. He has received the prestigious Inkpot Award and Toonie Award for his work in animation. He is currently retired but still works on some side projects and continues to draw and loves meeting fans. He is delighted to be making his virtual debut at JemCon 2022 and connect with Jem fans.

For more information on Rick visit https://www.rickhobergstoryartist.com/